Obituary for Patricia Elaine Duchaine (Fitzgerald)
Patricia Duchaine - Obituary
In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree or donate to the Alzheimer’s Society of BC.
Donate now | Alzheimer Society of British Columbia
On Wednesday, August 18, 2021 @ 23:17, Patricia Elaine Duchaine (née Fitzgerald), loving mother of three and grandmother of two, passed away at the age of 76.
Patricia (or Patsy as she was known to be called) was born on November 13, 1944 in Amherst, Nova Scotia to Kenneth and Clara (née Archibald) Fitzgerald both deceased. She was the eldest of 7 children: Patricia (1944), Ronald (1947, deceased), Donald (1947), Reginald (1948, deceased), James (1949), Janice (1951, deceased), Alice (1954).
Patricia’s family moved to Fredericton, New Brunswick when she was 2 years old. At age 4, Patricia was hit by a car. She had to be in a full body cast. There is a story she used to tell that when she was in her cast, she was itchy so her brothers put nails down her cast to help her out. Another story she talked about was when she was 16, her brother Jimmy stabbed her in the boob with some scissors, you will have to ask him whether that was true or not.
School was very important to Patricia. She graduated First Division in the Secretarial Course from Fredericton High School in 1962. She won the R.L. Phillips Prize for English in the Graduating Class of the Commercial Department. Her dreams of attending Queen’s University after high school were squashed by the fact that she was a girl and the eldest of 7. If she went to university, the rest of the kids would want to go and the family just couldn’t afford that at the time.
After taking the Civil Service Exam on July 13, 1962, Patricia started working at New Brunswick Liquor Commission and was promoted to Clerk Stenographer II, Licencing Board on April 1, 1964 increasing her pay to $252/month by April 1, 1965.
In Fredericton on December 27, 1965, she married Joseph Guy Duchaine in the presence of Kathleen Barrett and Donald Fitzgerald. Guy promptly left for Iserlohn, West Germany with Canadian Armed Forces. Patricia stayed behind and then joined him in July, 1966. She tells the story about her not focusing on her mother and instead Patricia was absorbed in moving to Germany to be with her husband. They had two daughters while in Germany, Nicole Cheryl Elaine (1967) and Heidi Lynn (1969). The family left Germany at the end of 1969. They were held in Ottawa until the children received their smallpox vaccinations. The family lived in Chilliwack at the PMQs (Private Married Quarters) 3 Lickman Road. They moved to Corisiette, Quebec in 1973 where they had their youngest daughter Nancy Claire (1974). In 1977, they moved back to Chilliwack and lived at the Sergeant Major’s House at 2 Tamihi. Patricia began upgrading her education and went to the Fraser Valley College between 1977 and 1979. She took Bookkeeping 1, and Business Law 1 & 2. Before leaving for Quebec one last time in 1980, Nicole was put into a Group Home. Patricia told the story that they needed special equipment for Nicole but the government would not financially help support Nicole unless she was a Ward of the State. Guy and Patricia had to make a difficult decision to give up rights for their eldest daughter. Patricia’s mother-in-law, Claire Duchaine, flew to BC and then drove across Canada with the family for a wonderful trip; however upon arriving in Valcartier, their PMQ was not ready and the family spent one month camping before being able to move into their new quarters. Guy retired from the Canadian Forces in December 1981 and the family moved to Smithers, BC where they lived in a hotel for a month, eating at Robbie’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They endured a horrible winter there and Heidi and Nancy remember having to walk home backwards during a snowstorm. Heidi even remembers calling Patricia to come pick them up and she just laughed at her! The family then moved to Rutland, BC and the girls’ school records were lost so they had two months to prove to their teachers that they were competent in their grades. In Rutland, the family sponsored two Japanese exchange students. It was amazing to learn about their culture. The family moved two more times while in Kelowna. Patricia started working at the Okanagan Neurological Association as their treasurer. Patricia also took one course each semester at Queens University from 1980-1983. She began the process to become a Certified General Accountant in 1981 and while she continued to take courses until 1990 she did not complete the requirements to get her certificate. In July of 1985, the family moved to Langley, BC. One month later Patricia and Guy separated and divorced. Patricia moved to Coquitlam with Heidi and Nancy. In 1986, Patricia’s parents along with Larry and Angela came to visit for Expo ‘86. It was awesome! Patricia flew to New Brunswick in 1987 to be at her 25 year High School Reunion at which time Heidi and Nancy lived with Guy while she was gone. The ladies moved several times throughout the subsequent years, constantly upgrading as their finances improved. Patricia and the girls were heavily involved with Parents without Partners. PWP provided much needed support and companionship for them. Patricia briefly worked for Oakalla Penitentiary and after a time, then worked for Mr. Robert Swanson. Patricia started working for the BCGEU in 1990 and retired in 2007. In 1992, Patricia decided to continue her studies at Queen’s University. After taking one course each semester, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in History in 2005, 60 years young. This was an important achievement for her. This degree was completed entirely by correspondence and took her over 20 years to complete. Heidi, Nancy and Alice (Patricia’s sister) flew to Kingston, Ontario for the convocation. They made so much noise when Patricia walked across the stage that the chancellor said something to her as well as nearby parents wanting the noisy gang to cheer for their sons and daughters.
Patricia was a lover of the Arts. She loved movies and musicals the most. They were always going to the movie theatre to watch the latest Star Wars or Star Trek movie. She was also a fan of Romance. Patricia also took the girls to live plays at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Ford Center. Over the years they saw Phantom of the Opera twice, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat (with Donny Osmond), Miss Saigon, and Sunset Boulevard to name a few. Patricia never missed an opportunity to watch her daughter, Nancy, on stage. And a lot of times she was there for multiple performances. She watched Nancy play in Fiddler on the Roof, Taming of the Shrew, the Wizard of Oz and her first paid gig, Master Plann. She would have LOVED to see Nancy play Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady - that was one of her favourite movies.
Patricia loved Toastmasters. She loved writing speeches and won a few awards over the years with Toastmasters, including 3rd Place at an International Toastmistress Club (I.T.C.) Speech Contest in February 1984 and First Place at a Royal City I.T.C. Speech Contest in 1996.
In 2002, she became a grandmother for the first time to Adam Joseph LeFaive. Patricia was a loving and involved grandmother and had to wait another 7 years before she became a grandmother to Kaeli Mae Duchaine-Rodrigue (2009). She always joked that she, at least, had one of each. Adam was extremely involved in sports and Patricia came to every one of Adam’s games and school functions. Patricia also came to live with Jean-Sebastien and Nancy for several months in Ashcroft when Nancy got a job with the Gold Trail School District so that she could take care of Kaeli while Nancy and Jean were working.
Patricia bought her first apartment in 1994 in Coquitlam. It was a one bedroom apartment on the ground floor. This was a super proud moment for her and proved that she had made it as a single, independent woman. After living in the Coquitlam apartment for some time, she upgraded and bought a two bedroom apartment in Port Coquitlam.
Patricia LOVED to travel and she took the girls on several trips over the years. The girls travelled to Calgary to visit Reggie and Linda several times (even took the train once - the Spiral Tunnels are amazing!). Patricia drove back east in July, 1992 with Heidi (Nancy stayed home and worked to make money for University). They drove across the northern United States on the way there. Visited Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and then drove back through southern Canada. Patricia traveled to Hawaii twice in her life, once to Maui with Heidi in 1997, and then to Oahu with Nancy and Maria Quine (Nancy’s best friend and Patricia’s ‘adopted’ daughter) for her birthday in 1999. In 2001, after Nancy graduated with her second degree (University of British Columbia), Patricia drove down the Oregon Coast with Nancy. They had many adventures. They camped, spelunked in the Oregon Caves and Patricia even drove her own dune buggy in the Oregon sand dunes! Patricia went on two organized ‘senior’ tours on her own. She traveled around Italy first in May 2006. And then later on another trip she went around Greece. After selling her home (and moving into the assisted living complex, Christmas Manor), Patricia went on one last trip. She did an Alaskan Cruise with Heidi and Adam (July, 2013).
In 2013, Patricia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She sold her apartment and moved into Christmas Manor which was an Assisted Living facility. She lived there for a few years and then moved into Dufferin Care Centre. At first, Patricia’s illness progressed slowly but the last few years saw a more rapid decline. Her daughter, Heidi, and son-in-law, Sam, were with her at her time of death and Nancy was listening in on the phone when she was pronounced. Her grandson, Adam, was also able to say goodbye before she passed.
There will not be a funeral; however, Patricia wanted her ashes spread in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Heidi and Nancy will organize something for Vancouver and then once it is safe to do so, they will fly to Halifax. Details will be shared once they are determined.
In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree or donate to the Alzheimer’s Society of BC.
Donate now | Alzheimer Society of British Columbia
On Wednesday, August 18, 2021 @ 23:17, Patricia Elaine Duchaine (née Fitzgerald), loving mother of three and grandmother of two, passed away at the age of 76.
Patricia (or Patsy as she was known to be called) was born on November 13, 1944 in Amherst, Nova Scotia to Kenneth and Clara (née Archibald) Fitzgerald both deceased. She was the eldest of 7 children: Patricia (1944), Ronald (1947, deceased), Donald (1947), Reginald (1948, deceased), James (1949), Janice (1951, deceased), Alice (1954).
Patricia’s family moved to Fredericton, New Brunswick when she was 2 years old. At age 4, Patricia was hit by a car. She had to be in a full body cast. There is a story she used to tell that when she was in her cast, she was itchy so her brothers put nails down her cast to help her out. Another story she talked about was when she was 16, her brother Jimmy stabbed her in the boob with some scissors, you will have to ask him whether that was true or not.
School was very important to Patricia. She graduated First Division in the Secretarial Course from Fredericton High School in 1962. She won the R.L. Phillips Prize for English in the Graduating Class of the Commercial Department. Her dreams of attending Queen’s University after high school were squashed by the fact that she was a girl and the eldest of 7. If she went to university, the rest of the kids would want to go and the family just couldn’t afford that at the time.
After taking the Civil Service Exam on July 13, 1962, Patricia started working at New Brunswick Liquor Commission and was promoted to Clerk Stenographer II, Licencing Board on April 1, 1964 increasing her pay to $252/month by April 1, 1965.
In Fredericton on December 27, 1965, she married Joseph Guy Duchaine in the presence of Kathleen Barrett and Donald Fitzgerald. Guy promptly left for Iserlohn, West Germany with Canadian Armed Forces. Patricia stayed behind and then joined him in July, 1966. She tells the story about her not focusing on her mother and instead Patricia was absorbed in moving to Germany to be with her husband. They had two daughters while in Germany, Nicole Cheryl Elaine (1967) and Heidi Lynn (1969). The family left Germany at the end of 1969. They were held in Ottawa until the children received their smallpox vaccinations. The family lived in Chilliwack at the PMQs (Private Married Quarters) 3 Lickman Road. They moved to Corisiette, Quebec in 1973 where they had their youngest daughter Nancy Claire (1974). In 1977, they moved back to Chilliwack and lived at the Sergeant Major’s House at 2 Tamihi. Patricia began upgrading her education and went to the Fraser Valley College between 1977 and 1979. She took Bookkeeping 1, and Business Law 1 & 2. Before leaving for Quebec one last time in 1980, Nicole was put into a Group Home. Patricia told the story that they needed special equipment for Nicole but the government would not financially help support Nicole unless she was a Ward of the State. Guy and Patricia had to make a difficult decision to give up rights for their eldest daughter. Patricia’s mother-in-law, Claire Duchaine, flew to BC and then drove across Canada with the family for a wonderful trip; however upon arriving in Valcartier, their PMQ was not ready and the family spent one month camping before being able to move into their new quarters. Guy retired from the Canadian Forces in December 1981 and the family moved to Smithers, BC where they lived in a hotel for a month, eating at Robbie’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They endured a horrible winter there and Heidi and Nancy remember having to walk home backwards during a snowstorm. Heidi even remembers calling Patricia to come pick them up and she just laughed at her! The family then moved to Rutland, BC and the girls’ school records were lost so they had two months to prove to their teachers that they were competent in their grades. In Rutland, the family sponsored two Japanese exchange students. It was amazing to learn about their culture. The family moved two more times while in Kelowna. Patricia started working at the Okanagan Neurological Association as their treasurer. Patricia also took one course each semester at Queens University from 1980-1983. She began the process to become a Certified General Accountant in 1981 and while she continued to take courses until 1990 she did not complete the requirements to get her certificate. In July of 1985, the family moved to Langley, BC. One month later Patricia and Guy separated and divorced. Patricia moved to Coquitlam with Heidi and Nancy. In 1986, Patricia’s parents along with Larry and Angela came to visit for Expo ‘86. It was awesome! Patricia flew to New Brunswick in 1987 to be at her 25 year High School Reunion at which time Heidi and Nancy lived with Guy while she was gone. The ladies moved several times throughout the subsequent years, constantly upgrading as their finances improved. Patricia and the girls were heavily involved with Parents without Partners. PWP provided much needed support and companionship for them. Patricia briefly worked for Oakalla Penitentiary and after a time, then worked for Mr. Robert Swanson. Patricia started working for the BCGEU in 1990 and retired in 2007. In 1992, Patricia decided to continue her studies at Queen’s University. After taking one course each semester, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in History in 2005, 60 years young. This was an important achievement for her. This degree was completed entirely by correspondence and took her over 20 years to complete. Heidi, Nancy and Alice (Patricia’s sister) flew to Kingston, Ontario for the convocation. They made so much noise when Patricia walked across the stage that the chancellor said something to her as well as nearby parents wanting the noisy gang to cheer for their sons and daughters.
Patricia was a lover of the Arts. She loved movies and musicals the most. They were always going to the movie theatre to watch the latest Star Wars or Star Trek movie. She was also a fan of Romance. Patricia also took the girls to live plays at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Ford Center. Over the years they saw Phantom of the Opera twice, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat (with Donny Osmond), Miss Saigon, and Sunset Boulevard to name a few. Patricia never missed an opportunity to watch her daughter, Nancy, on stage. And a lot of times she was there for multiple performances. She watched Nancy play in Fiddler on the Roof, Taming of the Shrew, the Wizard of Oz and her first paid gig, Master Plann. She would have LOVED to see Nancy play Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady - that was one of her favourite movies.
Patricia loved Toastmasters. She loved writing speeches and won a few awards over the years with Toastmasters, including 3rd Place at an International Toastmistress Club (I.T.C.) Speech Contest in February 1984 and First Place at a Royal City I.T.C. Speech Contest in 1996.
In 2002, she became a grandmother for the first time to Adam Joseph LeFaive. Patricia was a loving and involved grandmother and had to wait another 7 years before she became a grandmother to Kaeli Mae Duchaine-Rodrigue (2009). She always joked that she, at least, had one of each. Adam was extremely involved in sports and Patricia came to every one of Adam’s games and school functions. Patricia also came to live with Jean-Sebastien and Nancy for several months in Ashcroft when Nancy got a job with the Gold Trail School District so that she could take care of Kaeli while Nancy and Jean were working.
Patricia bought her first apartment in 1994 in Coquitlam. It was a one bedroom apartment on the ground floor. This was a super proud moment for her and proved that she had made it as a single, independent woman. After living in the Coquitlam apartment for some time, she upgraded and bought a two bedroom apartment in Port Coquitlam.
Patricia LOVED to travel and she took the girls on several trips over the years. The girls travelled to Calgary to visit Reggie and Linda several times (even took the train once - the Spiral Tunnels are amazing!). Patricia drove back east in July, 1992 with Heidi (Nancy stayed home and worked to make money for University). They drove across the northern United States on the way there. Visited Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and then drove back through southern Canada. Patricia traveled to Hawaii twice in her life, once to Maui with Heidi in 1997, and then to Oahu with Nancy and Maria Quine (Nancy’s best friend and Patricia’s ‘adopted’ daughter) for her birthday in 1999. In 2001, after Nancy graduated with her second degree (University of British Columbia), Patricia drove down the Oregon Coast with Nancy. They had many adventures. They camped, spelunked in the Oregon Caves and Patricia even drove her own dune buggy in the Oregon sand dunes! Patricia went on two organized ‘senior’ tours on her own. She traveled around Italy first in May 2006. And then later on another trip she went around Greece. After selling her home (and moving into the assisted living complex, Christmas Manor), Patricia went on one last trip. She did an Alaskan Cruise with Heidi and Adam (July, 2013).
In 2013, Patricia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She sold her apartment and moved into Christmas Manor which was an Assisted Living facility. She lived there for a few years and then moved into Dufferin Care Centre. At first, Patricia’s illness progressed slowly but the last few years saw a more rapid decline. Her daughter, Heidi, and son-in-law, Sam, were with her at her time of death and Nancy was listening in on the phone when she was pronounced. Her grandson, Adam, was also able to say goodbye before she passed.
There will not be a funeral; however, Patricia wanted her ashes spread in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Heidi and Nancy will organize something for Vancouver and then once it is safe to do so, they will fly to Halifax. Details will be shared once they are determined.